Given the importance accorded by the Government of India to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NITI Aayog decided to estimate the progress through a single measurable index that would serve as an advocacy tool and trigger action at the state/ UT level.

NITI Aayog has constructed the SDG India Index spanning across 13 out of the 17 SDGs (leaving out Goals 12, 13, 14 and 17). The progress on SDG 12, 13 and 14 could not be measured because relevant state-level data could not be consolidated or found. SDG 17 was left out because the Goal is focused on international partnerships, being less relevant for domestic level policy actions.

The Index tracks the progress of all the states and UTs on a set of 62 Priority Indicators, measuring their progress on the outcomes of the interventions and schemes of the Government of India. The SDG India Index is intended to provide a holistic view on the social, economic and environmental status of the country and its states and UTs.

The SDG India Index is an aggregate measure which can be understood and used by everyone—policymakers, businesses, civil society and the general public. It aims to measure India and its states’/ UTs' progress towards attaining the SDGs for 2030.

Sixty-two priority indicators were selected for computation of the SDG India Index after extensive discussions with 38 Central Ministries/ Departments and states/ UTs. Being the baseline report, this particular report does not consider time-series comparison of data.

A composite score was computed for each state and UT of India based on their aggregate performance across 13 of the 17 SDGs. The value of the score indicates the average performance of the state/ UT towards achieving the 13 SDGs and their respective targets. The score ranges between 0 and 100. If a state achieves a score of 100, it signifies that the state has achieved the national target set for 2030. On the other hand, if a state achieves a score of 0, it signifies that the state was the worst performer.

Based on the SDG India Index score, states and UTs were classified into 4 categories under each of the SDGs (except Goals 12, 13, 14 and 17)

* Achiever – when SDG India Index score is equal to 100* Front Runner – when SDG India Index score is less than 100 but greater than or equal to 65* Performer – when SDG India Index score is less than 65 but greater than or equal to 50* Aspirant – when SDG India Index score is less than 50

• The SDG Index Score for Sustainable Development Goals 2030 ranges between 42 and 69 for states and between 57 and 68 for UTs.

• Among the states, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh are the front runners with a SDG India Index score of 69 each. Among the UTs, Chandigarh is a front runner with a score of 68. There is no achiever among states/ UTs. The aspirants are Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh with SDG Index Score below 50. The SDG India Index score for country is 57.

• Among the UTs, Chandigarh (SDG Index Score: 68) takes the lead because of its exemplary performance in providing clean water and sanitation to its people. It has further made good progress towards and economic growth, and providing quality education.

• Sustainable Development Goal 1 aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. The Index Score for SDG 1 on poverty ranges between 37 and 76 for states and between 21 and 61 for UTs. Tamil Nadu (SDG 1 Index Score: 76) and Puducherry (SDG 1 Index Score: 61) are the best performers among the states and UTs, respectively. There is no achiever among states/ UTs. The aspirants are Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Delhi and Lakshadweep with SDG 1 Index Score below 50. The SDG 1 Index score for country is 54.

• Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people -- especially children -- have access to sufficient and nutritious food all year round. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Zero Hunger ranges between 35 and 80 for states and between 38 and 72 for UTs. Goa (SDG 2 Index Score: 80) and Delhi (SDG 2 Index Score: 72) were the top performing among states and UTs, respectively. There is no achiever among states and UTs. The aspirants are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep with SDG 2 Index Score below 50. The SDG 2 Index score for country is 48.

• Sustainable Development Goal 3 aims to ensure that people enjoy a level of health that enables them to lead a socially and economically productive life. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Good Health and Well-being ranges between 25 and 92 for states and between 23 and 66 for UTs. Kerala (SDG 3 Index Score: 92) is the best performer among the states, and Puducherry (SDG 3 Index Score: 66) is the best performer among the UTs. There is no achiever among states and UTs. The aspirants are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Delhi with SDG 3 Index Score below 50. The SDG 3 Index score for country is 52.

• Sustainable Development Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education for all, including technical and vocational training by providing lifelong learning opportunities, so as to achieve substantial adult literacy and numeracy. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Quality Education ranges between 36 and 87 for states and between 46 and 85 for UTs. Among the states, Kerala (SDG 4 Index Score: 87) is the top performer and Chandigarh (SDG 4 Index Score: 85) is the top performer among the UTs. No state or UT is an achiever. The aspirants are Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim and Daman & Diu with SDG 4 Index Score below 50. The SDG 4 Index score for country is 58.

• Sustainable Development Goal 5 aims to achieve gender equality by ending all forms of discrimination, violence and harmful practices, including trafficking and sexual exploitation against women and girls. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Gender Equality ranges between 24 and 50 for states and between 27 and 58 for UTs. Kerala (SDG 5 Index Score: 50) and Sikkim (SDG 5 Index Score: 50) among the states, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (SDG 5 Index Score: 58), and Chandigarh (SDG 5 Index Score: 51) among the UTs are in the Performer category (with index score greater than/ equal to 50 and less than 65). There are no achievers among states/ UTs. There are 27 aspirants among states and 5 aspirants among UTs with SDG 5 Index Score below 50. The SDG 5 Index score for country is 36.

• Sustainable Development Goal 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution, substantially increasing water-use efficiency across all sectors and supporting and strengthening the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Clean Water and Sanitation ranges between 31 and 100 for states and between 45 and 100 for UTs. Among the states, Gujarat (SDG 6 Index Score: 100) has achieved a full score of 100. The same score is shared by Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep among the UTs. The aspirants are Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tripura and Puducherry with SDG 6 Index Score below 50. The SDG 6 Index score for country is 63.

• Sustainable Development Goal 7 aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by the year 2030. Among the states, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and Karnataka are the top 3 performers on this Goal with a score of 89, 78 and 77, respectively. Among UTs, Chandigarh fares the best with a score of 96. There are no achievers among states and UTs. The aspirants are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal with SDG 7 Index Score below 50. The SDG 7 Index score for country is 51.

• The Sustainable Development Goal 8 of Decent Work and Economic Growth aims to achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification and technological upgradation and also promote development-oriented policies that support decent job creation, entrepreneurship and creativity and innovation. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Decent Work and Economic Growth ranges between 33 and 90 for states and between 60 and 91 for UTs. Among the states, Goa (SDG 8 Index Score: 90) is the top performer, and Daman and Diu (SDG 8 Index Score: 91) is the top performer among the UTs. There are no achievers among states and UTs. The aspirants are Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur and Nagaland with SDG 8 Index Score below 50. The SDG 8 Index score for country is 65.

• The Sustainable Development Goal 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure aims at building quality, reliable and resilient infrastructure. It further aims at promoting increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, to support economic development and human well-being. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure ranges between 0 and 72 for states and between 0 and 100 for UTs. The UTs of Delhi and Puducherry are the achievers of this Goal as they scored a full 100 on the Index. Manipur (SDG 9 Index Score: 72), Kerala (SDG 9 Index Score: 68) and Gujarat (SDG 9 Index Score: 65) are the front runners among states. There is no achiever among states and UTs. There are 22 aspirants among states and 4 aspirants among UTs with SDG 9 Index Score below 50. The SDG 9 Index score for country is 44.

• Sustainable Development Goal 10 on Reduced Inequalities calls for progressively reducing not only income inequalities but also inequalities of outcome by ensuring access to equal opportunities and promoting social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or other status relevant within a society. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Reduced Inequalities ranges between 38 and 100 for states and between 52 and 100 for UTs. The achievers (with Index score equal to 100) among the states are Meghalaya, Mizoram and Telangana, and among the UTs are Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep. The aspirants are Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh among states with SDG 10 Index Score below 50. The SDG 10 Index score for country is 71.

• Sustainable Development Goal 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities aims to promote inclusive and sustainable urbanization by providing access to safe and affordable housing, public transport, basic services and green public spaces through improved urban planning and management. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Sustainable Cities and Communities ranges between 23 and 71 for states and between 6 and 64 for UTs. Among the states, Goa (SDG 11 Index Score: 71) is the top performer, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (SDG 11 Index Score: 64) is the top performer among the UTs. There is no achiever among states and UTs. There are 24 aspirants among states and 5 aspirants among UTs with SDG 11 Index Score below 50. The SDG 11 Index score for country is 39.

• Sustainable Development Goal 15 aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, while also integrating ecosystem and biodiversity into national and local planning, developmental processes, poverty reduction strategies and national accounts. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Life on Land ranges between 43 and 100 for states and between 50 and 100 for UTs. The achievers (with an Index score equal to 100) are Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Manipur, Odisha and Uttarakhand among the states, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep among the UTs. The aspirant is Haryana with SDG 15 Index Score of 43 (<50). The SDG 15 Index score for country is 90.

• Sustainable Development Goal 16 primarily focusses on significantly reducing all forms of violence, and promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels to ensure equal access to justice for all. The SDG Index Score for the Goal of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions ranges between 53 and 91 for states and between 63 and 92 for UTs. Himachal Pradesh with a score of 91 and Puducherry with a score of 92 top the list of states and UTs, respectively. There is no achiever among states and UTs. There is no aspirant among states and UTs. The SDG 16 Index score for country is 71.